Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali had promised it: the brand's first electric motorcycle was already on the track with test rider Michele Pirro, and we would soon discover it. We are clearly keeping our promises at Borgo Panigale since here is the first machine without V2 or V4 but with batteries. A great first for the Italian manufacturer which opens a new page in its history. This V21L will equip the MotoE grid from 2023.
She turned to Misano with Michele Pirro on his handlebars and it's not a Ducati like the others. And first of all because it doesn't make any noise, even if it is a resounding novelty. Indeed, she who is baptized V21L is the first electric motorcycle from the Borgo Panigale coat of arms. Her vocation is already clear since it is she who will succeed theEnergica EGO Corsa in the world championship MotoE from 2023. At that time, Ducati will become the sole supplier of motorcycles within the electric world championship paddock. Downright.
The Ducati MotoE is an electric superbike prototype created from scratch, a motorcycle which has an exclusive R&D team within the competition department of the transalpine manufacturer as revealed Gigi Dall'Igna a few days ago : "we created an independent racing department, with its own working group, we created the first prototype in just a few months. The truth is that they are a very envied group because they have carte blanche to do what they want” revealed the Big Boss of Ducati Corse.
The prototype that can be seen in the photos provided by Ducati reveals a sports bike equipped with competition suspensions Öhlins, monobloc calipers Brembo, a carbon fiber fairing and a chassis which, without yet seeing its internal shapes, is intended to be a twin-girder aluminum frame.
Despite the tradition of Ducati to install a single-sided swingarm on its racing machines, MotoE uses a double aluminum swingarm with several areas cut out to lighten its weight. The side image allows us to see the installation of the rear monoshock in an unusually low area, just below the connection area between the swingarm and the chassis. Perhaps an approach to counter the center of gravity generated by the battery which equips this electric Ducati which is wider than a Panigale V4, to make a direct comparison.
The Italian manufacturer has not provided details regarding the performance offered by its MotoE. Its reference, the Energica EGO Corsa currently used in this championship, incorporates an oil-cooled permanent magnet AC motor capable of delivering 110 kW (150 hp) of power and torque in excess of 220 Nm. The kWh capacity allows the EGO Corsa to complete races at full throttle with a maximum of 7 or 8 laps, which translates to a range of approximately 45 kilometers . Its weight revolves around 250 kilos, or 100 kilos more than a MotoGP.
Ducati works with Volkswagen and Pirro already thought he was on the Desmosedici
When Claudio Domenicali announced its future plans for its brand in MotoE in Misano, the CEO of Ducati insisted on the need to work on the battery pack to reduce the weight of its prototype as much as possible. The Italian manufacturer is not starting from scratch, and will benefit from its relationship with the group Volkswagen to transfer part of the German giant's electric vehicle technology to the MotoE paddock: “ the help of this group will be very important for uss,” said Sundays. " We are part of the VW Group, which has its own battery development center. We are in close contact with them, although this center is mainly intended to mass produce batteries for cars, notably from Volkswagen and Audi. We exchange more and more ideas each time with the sportiest brands in the group, that is to say with Porsche and Lamborghini. Porsche, for example, is developing its own battery cell technology for high-performance products ».
Michele Pirro is the only rider who has been able to test the bike so far: “ finishing the first test with the MotoE was exciting, as it marks the start of a important chapter in the history of Ducati. The bike is light and already has good balance, in addition the connection with the accelerator in the first opening phase and also the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP. Without the silence and being tested and limit available power to only 70%, I would have had the impression of being on my motorbike ».
After the successful debut of his MotoE at Misano with Michele Pirro at his command, Ducati will continue the development of its new opus in 2022. The objective will be to be ready to assume the role of sole supplier of MotoE in 2023. Which still remains quite a challenge.
